The ABC Global Services team - Patricia Free, Klayton Killion, Nina Mays, Eric Altschul & Cynthia Kropp
Hyatt's Deborah Provda with ABC Global Services' Eric Altschul
Hilton Vancouver Metrotown's Shannon Rivers & Elaine Samson flank Trina Dang-Bordes, Marlin Travel
Sara Jurado, Live Aqua Hotels & Resorts; Sarah Braun, WD World Travel; Brandy Jacobsen & Charlene Seward from Aboriginal Travel Services
“We want to help you to grow your business,” said ABC Global Services’ CEO Eric Altschul during the recent “UpClose With ABC” event held at The Fairmont Waterfront Hotel Vancouver. This is 1 of 3 “UpClose” shows hosted by ABC annually to help create connections for customers – in this case, for hoteliers to meet with travel agents. And if you’re wondering, ABC provides comprehensive and customer-oriented programs and products to travel companies worldwide.
To substantiate this claim, Altschul highlighted the recently launched Commission Pro to the 130 agents in attendance. Under this initiative, ABC will collect and chase after monies owed to agencies after 90 days. “We want agents to concentrate on selling and servicing clients, and leave such things to us,” he said. They weren’t kidding when they said they wanted to make it easy for travel agents...
Twenty-two suppliers were at the show (held for the 1st time in Vancouver) most of whom were from out of town. “Vancouver is important enough for them to fly here,” said Altschul. “The suppliers totally support the agency channel.” Agreeing with this was Althea Allen, Director of Leisure & Business Travel Sales at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, who was here to introduce her property as a pre- or post-cruise accommodation option.
Amid networking with the suppliers, guests took advantage of the open bar and to enjoy the food selections from the carving station as well as a variety of hors d’oeuvres including sliders and sushi.
Although ABC is more well known out east, Altschul was happy to note that they’re seeing more name recognition in the west. Boca Raton-based ABC offers various products and services to travel agents including the Premier Hotel Program, which provides guaranteed rooms in properties in heavily booked or sold out cities.
Currently, it has 60,000 agencies signed up worldwide, about 75-80% are from North America.
ABC has recently introduced the e-Travel Alerts system as part of their product. Agents will receive up-to-the-minute security alerts on hot spots so that they can keep their clients in the know and take necessary action to ensure they are safe. Among the features offered, thrice daily, agents get e-mail summaries of world situations that could affect travellers, e.g. political instability, natural disasters, disease outbreak, etc
Providing an insight into the level of commitment ABC staff have to their work is Business Development Manager Nina Mays. Mays twisted her ankle while on her round of sales calls but bravely hobbled to the next appointment and clinched the contract. Seen at the show on crutches, Mays was happily catching up with contacts. Now, that’s what I call dedication.
Into its 11th year, ABC’s “UpClose” event is held in cities across North America. This year’s schedule starts off in Vancouver, followed by New York City and Chicago.
